Neanderthals were good hunters and beat off cave bears, as reported in ScienceNOW 26 September 2003. Archaeologists have studied animal bones and stone tools in a cave known as Grotte XVI in southern France to compare the diets of Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons. They found there was no difference in the type or number of game hunted by both groups, which goes against the theory that Neanderthals died out because they were less skilled hunters than Cro-Magnons. They also found a “dramatic decline in the number of cave bears who used the cave during the time of Neanderthal occupation, suggesting that humans ousted the animals for shelter and contributed to cave bear extinction.”
Editorial Comment: This study is further proof that Neanderthals were as fully human as Cro-Magnon. In spite of some bone deformities Neanderthals had bigger brains than today’s average, and had good manual dexterity, simple but effective stone technology and evidence of culture. Neanderthals fit well into the Biblical history of humanity, i.e. fully formed creations, separate from animals, who have degenerated due to the devastating effects of sin and judgement on the world. (Ref. Neanderthals, Cro-Magnon, human)